Can You Name These Classic Canadian Wrestling Stars?

SPORTS

By: Ashley Linkletter

7 Min Quiz

Image: Wiki Commons by Tabercil, Supercon Conventions & Sayuncle

About This Quiz

Canada is home to an impressive roster of professional wrestlers thanks, in part, to the legacy of the Hart family dynasty (which stretches back multiple generations) and an enthusiasm for the amateur wrestling scene that can be found all across the country. Considering how much some of the wrestlers in the quiz work stateside, you may be surprised by a couple of the wrestlers found on this list. Or, if you consider yourself a master when it comes to Canadian wrestling trivia, you'll recognize many of the following names as fellow citizens of the Great White North. 

This quiz contains over a century's worth of professional wrestling and all the fascinating stories that accompany the sport. Covering all of your favourite babyfaces and, of course, all of the sport's most memorable heels, you might recognize these wrestlers for their membership to large franchises such as the WWE — or you may have read about their contributions to the military or Canada's Olympic history during the earlier half of the 20th century. Some of the wrestlers you're about to encounter are deeply involved with complicated kayfabe plots while others are wrestling under their own names for small, family-owned franchises. Wherever your classic Canadian wrestling knowledge level lies, you'll learn plenty of interesting tidbits about the stories behind these famous — and infamous — faces.

This wrestler is not only famous for their impressive wrestling legacy, they're also an advocate for stroke and cancer awareness. What is their name?

Born in Calgary, Alberta, Bret Hart holds dual citizenship in both Canada and the United States. He has held 32 wrestling championships and has earned the title of WWF World Champion on five separate occasions. Hart began raising awareness about cancer and stroke recovery after experiencing both health problems firsthand.

Advertisement

You may know this wrestler by their stage name "Allie" or "The Bunny" — do you know what their real name is?

In Allie's relatively short time as a professional wrestler, Toronto-born Laura Dennis has demonstrated she's a force to be reckoned with. Among other wrestling accolades, Dennis held the CCW Women's Championship twice as well as holding the Impact Knockouts Championship on two different occasions.

Advertisement

Which "Diva of the Decade" can be seen in the image above?

The legendary Trish Stratus (née Patricia Anne Stratigeas) has not only held multiple wrestling championships, but she's also a savvy business owner. Her yoga studio, Stratusphere, has won numerous accolades for its eco-friendly theme — Stratus herself was named Top Choice Award's Business Woman of the Year in 2010.

Advertisement

The person in this picture is descended from British and Canadian wrestling royalty — can you guess who it is?

Harry Francis Smith, better known by his stage name "Davey Boy Smith Jr." comes from a long line (and large family) of professional wrestlers. His late father was famously known as "The British Bulldog" and his mother was Diana Hart, a member of the Hart family wrestling dynasty.

Advertisement

A former wrestler with the WWE, this individual's career in the ring ended after a spinal cord injury. Who are they?

Born in Calgary, Alberta, Tyson Kidd (real name Theodore James Wilson) began his WWE wrestling career in 2006. A match against Samoa Joe in June of 2015 resulted in a spinal injury comparable to that of Christopher Reeves', although Kidd's injuries did not result in quadriplegic paralysis.

Advertisement

You might be surprised to know that this wrestler-now-actor is a Canadian citizen. What stage name did this person use as a professional wrestler?

Dwayne Johnson also known as "The Rock" received his Canadian citizenship in 2009 (he holds dual citizenship with the United States.) Johnson's father was originally from the province of Nova Scotia — Johnson himself briefly played for the CFL's Calgary Stampeders.

Advertisement

This person is well-known for their hardcore style — and for changing wrestling bureaucracy in the province of Ontario. Can you guess the name of this pro wrestler?

Born in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, LuFisto (née Genevieve Goulet) put in a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission after she was banned from wrestling in Ontario (where it was illegal for men and women to fight one other.) Her complaint was heard and provincial legislature was subsequently changed due to her actions.

Advertisement

Which Calgary-born WWE Raw wrestler is pictured in the photo above?

Natalie Katherine Neidhart-Wilson, who is better known by her stage name Natalya, stands alone as the only third-generation female wrestler in the entire world. A member of the prolific Hart wrestling family, Natalya has held both the Divas Championship and SmackDown Women's Championship during the span of her career.

Advertisement

Do you know the name of this wrestler who is both famous for their wrestling legacy and for being the parent of another celebrity wrestler-turner-actor?

Hailing from the Maritime province of Nova Scotia, Rocky Johnson (née Wayne Douglas Bowles) is a former professional wrestler — and father to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. A pioneer in the world of wrestling, Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas became the first black tag team to hold the World Tag Team Championship in the WWF.

Advertisement

Which Canadian pro wrestler picked up Spanish while competing in Mexico?

Val Venis — whose birth name is Sean Allen Morley — used to compete in Lucha Libre tournaments in Mexico, where he picked up conversational Spanish while wrestling in Consejo Mundial championships under the name Steele.

Advertisement

You may know this wrestler as Cyrus the Virus or the Jackyl, but do you know what their real name is?

Born in WInnipeg, Alberta, Donald "Don" Callis has retired from professional wrestling and now works as an executive and on-screen commentator for Impact Wrestling. While he is now most commonly known as Don Callis, his other monikers have included Don Casablancas, The General and The Natural.

Advertisement

This pro wrestler publicly endorsed Canadian NDP candidate Jagmeet Singh for Prime Minister in 2019 — what is their ring name?

Yuvraj Singh Dhesi goes by the ring name Jinder Mahal when performing with the WWE (although he's currently recuperating from a knee injury.) Born in Calgary, Alberta, Jinder Mahal is trilingual — he speaks English, Punjabi and Hindi.

Advertisement

Nowadays, you'll have a better chance seeing this former wrestler high in the sky than in the wrestling ring — who are they?

Born in Montreal, Quebec in March of 1945, "Rugged" Ronnie Garvin retired from his wrestling career in 2011. Not one to bow out of adventure, Garvin took to the skies and is now licensed to fly single and multi-engine aircraft.

Advertisement

Losing their eye to a pellet gun didn't stop this wrestler from enjoying a long career — and it's still going! Do you know what their name is?

Born in Sainte-Catherine, a suburb of Montreal, Quebec, PCO is the ring name for professional wrestler Carl Joseph Yvon Ouellet — an acronym that stands for Perfect Creation One and which is based on his former stage name Pierre Carl Ouellet.

Advertisement

You don't have to be under a certain age to appreciate the moves of this pro wrestler — what's their name?

Hailing from Florence, Ontario, WWE wrestler Eric Young was born Jeremy Fritz in 1979. Always on the prowl for thrills and excitement, Young hosted the Animal Planet show "Off the Hook: Extreme Catches" for two seasons between 2012 and 2013.

Advertisement

This wildly famous pro wrestler also has several successful gigs on the side. Do you know what this entrepreneurial wrestler's ring name is?

Christopher Keith Irvine, more commonly known as Chris Jericho, is not only a legendary wrestler — he's also the lead singer of the band Fozzy (he even has a tattoo of their album artwork), host of the podcast "Talk is Jericho," co-owner of an athletic training gym and a former contestant on "Dancing With the Stars."

Advertisement

Which of the following professional wrestlers shares a name with U2's lead guitarist?

Although he was born Adam Joseph Copeland, fans of WWE wrestling will recognize this champion by the name Edge. Having taken home 31 WWE championships during his career, Edge is currently playing the reoccurring role of Kjetill Flatnose on the fifth season of "Vikings."

Advertisement

Do you know the name of this French-Canadian professional wrestler?

Kevin Owens, née Kevin Steen, was born into a French-speaking family from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Owens credits WWE's "Monday Night Raw" for teaching him English and a WrestleMania match between Diesel and Shawn Michaels for inspiring his future career as a wrestler.

Advertisement

Interested in becoming a professional wrestler? You'll want to get in touch with the person above — what is their name?

Lance Storm, a former WWE professional wrestler, now owns and operates Storm Wrestling Academy, a pro wresting school in Calgary, Alberta. The gym is in good hands, Lance Storm attended Wilfred Laurier University School of Business back when he was known by his given name: Lance Timothy Evers.

Advertisement

Even if you don't watch professional wrestling, you might have seen this person on the FX show "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." Who were they?

The late, great "Rowdy" Roddy Piper guest-starred as "Da' Maniac" on "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" — an unhinged wrestler whose character was directly inspired by Mickey Rourke's Oscar-nominated role in the film "The Wrestler." He also had a thriving career in B movies, with "Hell Comes to Frogtown" and "They Live" two notables.

Advertisement

This wrestler used the moniker "The Blue Blazer" before switching over to their given name — who is this person?

Calgary-born Owen Hart held many championships during his time as a professional wrestler, including a WWF European Championship and WWF King of the Ring in 1994. Tragically, Hart died at the age of 33 after falling from the rafters of Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri while performing in a WWF "Over the Edge" pay-per-view match.

Advertisement

Which classic wrestling star is considered the true patriarch of the Hart family?

Stewart "Stu" Hart, left, was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1915, beginning his amateur wrestling career in the 1930s and 1940s before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Navy. The Hart dynasty has gone on to include many notable wrestlers, including Bret and Owen Hart.

Advertisement

This impolite wrestler isn't known for their manners — what is their name?

Robert Roode was born in Peterborough, Ontario, where he grew up and would go on to train under Sean Morley and Shane Sewell — professional wrestlers who are also from Ontario (Oakville and Toronto, respectively.)

Advertisement

A true Canadian snowbird (although a slightly younger version), you'll have to travel to Florida or Puerto Rico to find this professional wrestler. Who is the person in the image above?

Professional wrestler and referee Shane Sewell — who was last seen wrestling under the moniker "Glamour Boy" Shane — won the IWA, WWC and WWL Heavyweight Championships in Puerto Rico, cementing his legacy in the Puerto Rican wrestling scene.

Advertisement

Can you identify the Québécois pro wrestler shown in the photo above?

Dino Bravo, an Italian-Canadian, was born Adolfo Bresciano in Campobasso, Italy. He grew up in Quebec and made his Québécois heritage part of his wrestling identity — his character could often be seen proudly wearing the Fleur-de-lis as part of his costume.

Advertisement

An amateur wrestler — from the archives! You'll have to go back to 1928 if you want to remember the Olympian efforts of this individual, do you remember their name?

Born in 1905, Earl McCready represented Canada as a heavyweight wrestler at the 1928 Summer Olympic Games in Amsterdam where he placed sixth in his division. McCready would go on to win gold while competing in the 1930 British Empire Games.

Advertisement

Which classic WWF pro wrestler from the '80s and '90s used the ring name "The Mountie" at one point in their career?

Born in Saint-Saulpice, Quebec, Jacques Rougueau Jr.'s French-Canadian heritage was an integral part of his wrestling identity — in 1993 he was one half of the wrestling act "The Quebecers" with fellow Québécois wrestler Pierre Ouellet.

Advertisement

Famous for their out-of-control antics, this pro wrestler was all-in when it came to theatrics. Do you know who they were?

The Missing Link, also known by his birth name Byron James John "Dewey" Robertson, was a WWF and NWA wrestler who was best known for his blue and green painted face and for his over-the-top (even for wrestling!) and crazed behaviour in the ring.

Advertisement

Known for their ultra-violent fighting style, this wrestler's name couldn't be more perfect. What is it?

Part of Abdullah the Butcher's gimmick was that he spoke no English. In real life, Lawrence Robert Shreve — also known as Abdullah the Butcher — was born in Windsor, Ontario (where he grew up speaking English.)

Advertisement

The wrestler in this picture is identifiable as both a pro wrestler and a podcaster — who are they?

A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Steve Corino is now a semi-retired professional wrestler who made his name holding heavyweight championships for the NWA, ECW and MLW (among others.) He's now co-host of the wrestling podcast "Extreme Odd Couple" with Rob Dimension.

Advertisement

One of the biggest heels in the business, this wrestler began their amateur wrestling career when they competed in the 1948 Summer Games in London, England. Who was this former Olympian?

Mad Dog Vachon was born Joseph Maurice Régis Vachon in Montreal, Quebec in 1929. Before beginning his professional career, Vachon competed as a heavyweight in the 1948 Olympics and won gold at the 1950 British Empire Games.

Advertisement

Out of the following options, which professional wrestler used to bill themselves as "Canada's Greatest Athlete"?

Before Gene Kiniski became a professional wrestler, he played football for the Edmonton Eskimos prior to earning a sports scholarship to the University of Arizona. In 1952, Kiniski began his formal training as a wrestler, eventually competing under the names Gene Kelly, Mighty Canadian and Big Thunder.

Advertisement

After having a heart attack in the ring, this person was pronounced dead twice before being revived. Who was this death-defying professional wrestler?

"Bulldog" Bob Brown began his wrestling career in 1962 in Manitoba. Brown's character was known as being a heel, famous for taunting his adversaries in and out of the ring. After surviving a heart attack in the ring, Brown retired from wrestling and worked as a security guard until his death in 1997.

Advertisement

You may recognize this wrestler for their role in La Résistance between 2003 and 2007. What is their name?

Born in Varennes, Quebec, Sylvain Grenier spent a significant amount of time wrestling for the WWE until he was released from his contract in 2007. Grenier was involved in a class-action suit against the WWE in 2016, along with other wrestlers claiming to have suffered from traumatic brain injuries while working for the franchise.

Advertisement

When this wrestler was in the WWE they were known as Tye Dillinger — what ring name are they currently using?

A former professional wrestler for the WWE, Shawn Spears (née Ronnie William Arneill) is now signed to the All Elite Wrestling franchise, where he immediately set his character up as a heel after hitting Cody Rhodes with a steel chair.

Advertisement

In the ring this wrestler went by the name Kurrgan, but in their numerous acting credits they go by their given name. What is it?

You may know Robert Maillet for his time spent in the ring as Kurrgan, or you may know him for his roles in the movies "300," "Deadpool 2," "Sherlock Holmes," "Hercules" and "Pacific Rim."

Advertisement

Which of the wrestling veterans listed below is the oldest wrestler to ever have won a WWE title?

Born in Montreal, Quebec, Pat Patterson won the WWE 27/7 Championship when he was 78 years old, making him the oldest person to ever take home the title. Patterson is openly gay and was with his longtime partner, Louie Dondero, for 40 years.

Advertisement

Now retired, the wrestler in the image above held 46 wrestling championships throughout their career. Can you guess what their name is?

Born Leonce Cormier, this wrestler spent their career using the moniker Leo Burke when they were in the ring. He has been semi-retired from wrestling since 2006 after undergoing eight separate operations on his knees.

Advertisement

The wrestler pictured above was known for their stomping technique. Which Canadian wrestler fits that profile?

You wouldn't have wanted to be underfoot in a wrestling match with Archie "The Stomper" Gouldie! Also known as The Mongolian Stomper, Gouldie wore black cowboy boots in the ring — and wasn't afraid to show off his stomping talents!

Advertisement

This wrestler was known for being a crybaby in the ring — what was their name?

Born in Montreal, Quebect, George "Crybaby" Cannon was known for his appearance during matches — he would get so sweaty that when he wiped his eyes with his hands it looked like he was crying.

Advertisement

Explore More Quizzes

About Zoo

Our goal at Zoo.com is to keep you entertained in this crazy life we all live.

We want you to look inward and explore new and interesting things about yourself. We want you to look outward and marvel at the world around you. We want you to laugh at past memories that helped shape the person you’ve become. We want to dream with you about all your future holds. Our hope is our quizzes and articles inspire you to do just that.

Life is a zoo! Embrace it on Zoo.com.